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The mythology surrounding ancient Norse gods and heroes has inspired countless writers and artists, including Tennyson, Wagner, William Morris, Tolkien, Borges, and Auden. Compiled by an unknown scribe in Iceland around 1270 and based on sources dating back centuries earlier, these poems tell of the heroic deeds of gods and mortals: the giant- slaying Thor, the doomed V+┬lsung family, the Hell-ride of Brynhild, and the cruelty of Atli (Attila the Hun). Eclectic, incomplete, and fragmented, the verses nevertheless retain a stark beauty and enthralling power, opening a window onto the thoughts, beliefs, and hopes of the Vikings and their world.